God’s Plan for Israel

In God’s plan for Israel every family had a home on the land with sufficient ground for cultivating. Thus were provided both the means and the incentive for a useful, industrious, and self-supporting life. And no human devising has ever improved upon that plan. The world’s departure from it has caused, to a large degree, the poverty and distress that exist today.MHH 97.3

At the settlement of Israel in Canaan, the land was divided among the whole people. The Levites only, as ministers of the sanctuary, were excepted from the equal distribution. The tribes were numbered by families, and to each family, according to its size, was apportioned an inheritance.MHH 97.4

And although a family might for a time dispose of its possession, it could not permanently barter away the inheritance of the children. When able to redeem the land, the original owner was at liberty at any time to do so. Debts were forgiven every seventh year, and in the fiftieth, or year of jubilee, all landed property reverted to the original owner.MHH 98.1

“‘The land shall not be sold permanently,’” was the Lord’s direction, “‘for the land is Mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with Me. And in all the land of your possession you shall grant redemption of the land. If one of your brethren becomes poor, and has sold some of his possession, and if his kinsman-redeemer comes to redeem it, then he may redeem what his brother sold. Or if the man ... himself becomes able to redeem it, ... he may return to his possession. But if he is not able to have it restored to himself, then what was sold shall remain in the hand of him who bought it until the Year of Jubilee.’” Leviticus 25:23-28.MHH 98.2

“‘You shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you; and each of you shall return to his possession, and each of you shall return to his family.’” Verse 10.MHH 98.3

Thus every family was secured in its possession, and a safeguard was afforded against the extremes of either wealth or poverty.MHH 98.4